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TheOfPuppy TrainingBy Sheila McNerney
Table of ContentsTable of Contents . 1Introduction . 2Preparing for Puppy . 3Where Will the Puppy Sleep . 3What Will You Feed Her . 3Is Your Home Puppy Proof. 3Who Will Check on Your Puppy . 3Early Puppy Training . 4Potty Training . 4Paper Training . 4Routines . 4To Crate or Not to Crate . 5Crate Location . 5Introducing the Crate . 5Leash Training . 6Preferred Collars and Leashes . 6Becoming the Boss . 7Do’s and Don’ts for Establishing Dominance. . 7Basic Commands . 8“Sit!” . 8Method A . 8Method B . 8“Lie Down!”. 9“Stay!”. 9“Come!” . 10Method A . 10Method B . 11Do’s and Don’ts of “Come!” . 11The Beauty Shop . 12Brushing . 12Bathing . 12Dental Hygiene . 13Nail Clipping. 13Appendix A: Puppy Behavioral Stages. 14Appendix B: Correcting Behavioral Problems . 15References . 16Contributors . 161
IntroductionTwo years ago I brought home a delightful new puppy named Jigger. What I thoughtwould be a warm and fuzzy experience quickly turned into frustration, all because I hadforgotten effective training techniques and became confused by all of the differentadvice that I received. My confusion led to a confused puppy.My purpose for writing this is to provide you with the proper information to train yournew puppy. I want you to avoid the failures and frustrations that I experienced byequipping you with the steps needed to turn your puppy into a well-behaved, adult dog.Puppies need consistent training, discipline, and positive reinforcement from themoment they come home. This contains the techniques that I had success with, alongwith common training techniques that should be avoided.My puppy Jigger at ten weeks old.Note how he is sitting still for this photo. You can’t see the treat I was bribing him with.NoteBefore bringing home any new puppy, please investigate the breed to be sure it will be asuitable size and temperament for your family. Specific breed information can be obtainedfrom your veterinarian, breeders, the library, and the internet. If adopting a mixed breed, theanimal shelter or your local veterinarian usually can tell you the breeds of the pup, and anapproximate size you can expect when fully grown.2
Who Will Check on Your PuppyPreparing for PuppyIf you will be gone all day, is theresomeone who can check on yourpuppy? A puppy younger than sixmonths will not be able to hold hisbladder for more than a few hours, so afriend, neighbor, relative, or pet sitterwho can help out for a few months isimportant.When you bring a new puppy home alittle preparation is best. Consider thesethings before the puppy arrives.Things you should have when youbring a puppy home:Where Will the Puppy SleepYour puppy is used to sleeping with herlittermates and will be comforted by yourpresence if you crate her in yourbedroom. Also, she will be able to wakeyou if she needs to potty.Crate or doorway gatePremium puppy foodNon-tipping feeding bowlsToysWhat Will You Feed HerChewiesFor puppies I recommend high quality foodsspecifically for puppies until they are at leasta year old. I have found that when fedbrands such as Science Diet, Eukanuba, orIams, the puppy will have firmer stools,making accident cleanup easier.TreatsSmall container for treatsCollarShort leashIs Your Home Puppy ProofRetractable leash or rope (25 ft.)A cluttered home is a hazard to a puppywho will try to chew on whatever youmake accessible. Make sure thathazards are off of the floor, electricalcords are hidden and doors are closedto forbidden rooms. Remember, thingsthat are hazardous to small children arealso hazardous to puppies.Nylon bristle brushPuppy or baby shampooToenail clippersTooth brush and canine toothpaste3
him that going potty is wrong and he willbecome sneaky when he does it.Early Puppy TrainingReady for FormattingPaper TrainingI advise against this common practicebecause it teaches your puppy to relievehimself in the house. Also, the puppywill have to be retrained to go outside atsome point. It is best to just train himcorrectly from the beginning.What you teach your puppy from the moment hecomes home will affect his behavior for the restof his life. Think of your puppy as a blankcomputer disk whose output depends on yourinput. Now is the time to think about how youwant your puppy to behave as a full grown dog.It is difficult to resist holding your little pup onyour lap, but what about when he is a full-growndog? Will you still want that?RoutinesRemember that you need to teach your puppynow, what you want him to do when he is fullygrown.Establishing routines with your puppy iscrucial for success in potty training.Puppies learn from you when it is timeto eat, play, potty, go for a walk andsleep. Also, if you feed him at the sametime every day, you will be able todetermine when he will need to relievehimself.Potty TrainingFrom my recent experiences with puppytraining, I have discovered that it is bestto always take your puppy to where youwill want him to relieve himself. Whetheryou will be taking him out on a leash orinto your yard, you must always beconsistent, or he will not know where togo. Don’t just open the door and sendhim outside by himself. He will not knowwhat he is going out for.Always do the following when pottytraining: Go out with him. Give the command “Go potty!” Reward him with praise and atreat when he is successful. Be consistent about where andwhen you take him out.If your puppy has an accident in the house, itis your fault. You must take a young puppyout at least every two hours, especially aftermeals and playing.Never scold, spank or rub his nose in itwhen he has an accident. This teaches4
To Crate or Not to CrateWarningAlthough many people believe puttingtheir puppy in a cage is cruel, there aremany advantages for doing it. Dogs feel safer in small spaces. Aids with potty training. Keeps her out of trouble.Never place you crate near drafts, heatsources, vents, or in bathrooms.Introducing the CrateYour puppy has the natural instinct tokeep her bed clean, so she will developbetter elimination control if she isconfined for gradually extended periodsof time.1. Prop open the door to the crate andtoss a treat inside. As you do this,tell her to “Go to bed.”2. Let her go inside and get the treat.Let her investigate the crate, comeand go as she wishes.3. Repeat until she is comfortable withthe crate.4. Offer her next meal in the crate.After she is in, close the door, andlet her out when she is finishedeating.Photo courtesy of PetEducation.comThere are many types of cratesavailable. These range from wire crates,to travel crates that are mostly plasticwith a wire door. If your pet will betraveling a lot, a plastic crate will providebetter protection in a car or plane.5. Repeat for several meals and treats.6. When comfortable with this, go backto feeding in her original place andoffering treats for going in the crate.Always tell her “go to bed.”Leave her in the crate. If she cries orscratches at the door, tell her “No,quiet!” If you let her out, you areteaching her that the temper tantrumworks. Only let her out when you areready and when she is quiet.Crate LocationThe ideal location for the crate is in yourbedroom. This will give your puppyuninterrupted time with you while yousleep. This will also make her feelsecure. If isolated away from you, shewill be more apt to cry or do destructivechewing out of fear and loneliness.5
Preferred Collars and LeashesLeash TrainingBegin leash training as soon as youbring your puppy home. Many puppiesdo not like the leash, so they must beable to associate it with something goodwhich you will accomplish using praiseand treats.1. Place the collar on his neck,keeping it loose enough to comeover his head if he gets caught onsomething.Image courtesy of Petsmart.com2. Let him wear this for a couple ofdays to get used to the feel of it.Soft, buckled collars made of nylon arepreferred for puppies. They are tough,resist mildew, and do not easily tangle inthe fur of long-haired dogs. For leashtraining a short nylon leash is best.When trained, a retractable leash is fine.3. Under supervision, attach a shortleash onto the collar and let himdrag it around for a little while. Donot try to lead him with it yet. Do thisthree or four times.4. Hold the leash in one hand andsome treats in the other.5. Show him the treats, then backaway a few steps and say, “Let’sgo!” When he comes to you, praisehim and give him a treat.I do not recommend using collars withdecorative beading, spikes, or chains.These can be hazards to a chewingpuppy and can injure persons handlinghim.6. Do this three times a day, increasingthe distance each time and he willsoon readily follow you.7. Always walk him on your left side.Consistency with this means he willnot be underfoot.TipIf your puppy refuses to follow you, do not draghim on the leash. He will associate the leash assomething unpleasant.Instead, just kneeldown, call him to you, and pet him. Wait a fewmoments then try walking with him again.Image courtesy of For Dog Trainers.com6
Becoming the BossDon’t:Dogs are pack animals and most will tryto dominate you. It is natural for them totry to establish themselves as the“Alpha” member of their new pack, yourfamily. Some people find dominantbehavior in a puppy to be cute, but cutewill eventually be replaced by frustrationwhen your full-grown dog rules yourhouse. By stopping her attempt toassert dominance as a puppy, you willbe rewarded with a more obedient dog. Allow her to initiate play. If she bringsyou a toy wanting to play, ignore her.You must be the one to initiate playtime. Allow aggressive behavior such asmouthing, biting, snapping,inappropriate growling, or tug of war.Do’s and Don’ts forEstablishing DominanceImage courtesy of seeFIDO.comDo: Allow her through a doorway or stairsfirst, make her wait for you.Correct bad behavior immediatelywith a firm “No!” Waiting will confuseher. If your command is ignored, firmlygrasp the scruff of her neck and giveit a good shake and tell her “No!”again. Make her sit before all meals andtreats. Cradle an aggressive puppy like ababy for a few minutes, until she iscalm. At first she may become moreupset by this, but will eventuallycalm down. Leave her food out between meals.You give her food at meals and takeup her dish when the meal is over.This lets her know that food comesfrom you!See Appendix A for more informationabout the ages to expect dominationbehaviors from puppies.Photo Courtesy of Good Dog University.Com7
Basic CommandsTipOnly give the command one time. Do not keeprepeating the command. If he does not sit on thefirst command, help him sit and then praise him.You probably chose your puppybecause you want a companion, friend,or protector. But, in order to fulfill therole you want him to take, he will needtraining; and that training begins with thebasic commands.Method AWith basic training, not only will yourpuppy be learning self control, you willbe learning what motivates him to begood. It is best to practice thesecommands several times a week,but not for more than 10 to 15minutes a day. Always end training sessions on ahappy note, with a couple ofminutes of play or praise. Yourpuppy will think of training assomething positive. 1. Hold his leash in left hand, havetreats in your right hand.2. Tell him “Sit!”3. Move your hand with the treats overhis head, from his nose towards histail.4. His head will go up and back towatch your hand, and his hips willlower to the ground.5. When he sits, give him a treat andpraise him “Good boy!”Remember to bring plenty of treats.If method A is not successful, try thefollowing.“Sit!”Begin teaching the sit command a fewdays after bringing your puppy home.There are two methods for teachingyour puppy to sit.Method B1. Tell him to “Sit!” as you hold onehand under his chin, near his neck.2. Use the other hand to tuck his backlegs under him, shaping him into thesitting position.3. Give him a treat and praise him.Only reward him if he holds the sit for afew seconds. If he pops up quickly, tellhim “Be still!” in a firm voice, and havehim sit again.Photo Courtesy of Second Chance Prison Canines.org8
“Lie Down!”“Stay!”This command is a continuation of thesit command. This teaches your puppyself control and to be still.Teach the stay command after yourpuppy has mastered the sit and downcommands. This is a two-partcommand. You can command her to“Stay!” from either the “Sit!” or “Down!”position, which she will hold until you“Release!” her.1. Begin with your puppy in the sittingposition.2. Place one hand on her shouldersand let her smell the treat in theother hand.The object is to train your puppy to holdin position for a few moments, graduallyincreasing over time, the time holding inposition.3. As you tell her “lie down!” or “down!”take the treat down to the groundbetween her front paws.1. Have her “Sit!”4. She will follow the treat down whileyou gently push down on hershoulders.2. With the leash in your left hand pullback on the leash towards her tail.3. With your right hand – palm towardsher face – give the command “Stay!”as shown in Figure 1.5. When down, give her the treat andpraise her, holding her down for afew seconds.6. Release your hand and step back.Figure 1.Image Courtesy of WeForAnimals.com4. Step back one step and release thepressure on the leash.5. If she moves, correct her with “No!”and make her sit again.Image Courtesy of KAOS Kennels.com6. Repeat steps one through four untilshe holds the sitting position for afew seconds.If she doesn’t lie down when you tell her“Down!” do not repeat the command.Gently sweep her front legs forward andlay her down.7. Step back to her and give her the“Release!” command.8. Reward her with praise and a treat.9
“Come!”You can purchase small containers of treatsfrom most pet stores. When empty, you cansimply refill them with other treats or dog food.It is very important that you teach yourpuppy to come to you. If he gets awayfrom you when you are outside, youwant to be able to call him back to keephim out of danger.Part IILike the sit command, there are twomethods for teaching a dog to come toyou. You will need to teach him bothmethods. Begin with Method A insideyour home. After he is consistentlysuccessful with Method A, move on toMethod B, outside the home.Method AThis method teaches your puppy tocome when you offer him a treat.Part I1.Place a few tasty treats in a smallcontainer with a lid, similar to theone shown in Figure 2.2.Shake the container in front of yourpuppy and ask him “Cookie?” or“Treat?” Give him a treat.3.Do this a few times a day for severaldays.1.Have him sit in front of you.2.Shake the container.3.Replace the word “Cookie?” or“Treat?” with “Come!” Give him atreat.4.Do this a few times a day forseveral days, until he becomesexcited by the rattle of thecontainer.This will teach him to associate therattle of the container and the word“Come!” with a reward.Image courtesy of seeFIDO.comThis will teach him to associate the rattleof the container and your question, witha reward.Part III1. With your puppy across the room,shake the container while telling him“Come!”2. When he runs to you, give him atreat and praise him.Figure 2.Image Courtesy of Cool Pet Products.com3. Practice this around the house. Youare now ready to move outsideusing Method B.10
Method BThis method teaches your puppy tocome to you using a retractable leash orpiece of rope measuring 25 feet inlength.WarningWhen working outside of a fenced area withyour pup, always keep him on a leash. Haveavailable your container of treats, to rattle for hisattention in case he gets loose.1. Fasten the long rope or leash to hiscollar.Do’s and Don’ts of “Come!”2. When he is distracted and wandersaway from you several feet, tell him“Come!”Do:3. If he comes to you, praise him andgive him a treat.4. If he does not come, do not call him.Do not correct him. Incorporate “Come!” into everydaypractice, not just training. Like all training, end it with a fewminutes of play. Use hand signals and commandsconsistently.5. Pick up the rope or leash and pullhim to you, even if you are dragginghim.Don’t:6. When he is close, let the line outagain, repeating steps 2 and 3.7. If he is too distracted to come toyou, rattle the container of treatswhen you call him. Eventually youwill be able to make him comewithout treats.Image Courtesy of Positive Puppy.com11 End a play session with “Come!” orhe will negatively relate thecommand with the end of play. Ever chase your puppy if he getsloose. He will think it’s a game. Trycalling “Come!” “Cookie” or rattlethe treat container to get hisattention. Scold your puppy for running fromyou. Especially if he comes back toyou. He will associate coming toyou with punishment.
The Beauty ShopBathingAll puppies require regular grooming tokeep them in good health and condition.You can easily perform basic groomingon your puppy. In fact, if done regularlywhen she is young, the easier it will bewhen she is a full-grown adult dog.Bath your puppy only when she needsit. Too much bathing can dry out andirritate a pup’s skin.BrushingBrushing is the most important part ofgrooming your puppy. It cleans the hairwithout stripping it of protective oils.Things to keep in mind about brushing: Photo courtesy of countryliving.home.att.netWherever you choose to bath her, makesure that it is where you will bath herwhen she is full-grown. Also, make surethat she cannot chill or be exposed to adraft.A brush of nylon bristles will work ormost puppies. If your puppy has athicker or longer coat a slicker or pinbrush might work.Slicker Brush1. Place non-skid mat or towel in tub.Nylon Bristle/Pin BrushNote themetal pinbristleson oneside,nylon onother.Images courtesy of Petsmart.com Brush at least once a week. Teach your puppy to lie on her sidewhile you brush her.5. Lather her body with shampoopaying close attention to the belly,back and inside of elbows, analarea, and inside of thighs.6. Rinse first the head, then the neck,chest, back, sides, rear legs, andtail.Regular brushing will prevent fur matting.However, if mats do form:2.3.3. Wet her thoroughly with lukewarmwater.4. Let water raise a couple of inches tosoak dirt from her feet.Mat Removal1.2. Plug her ears with cotton and placeher in tub.Saturate mat with No More Tangles, oranother conditioner. Wait a few minutes.Try to pick out mat with a wide tooth comb,starting at the bottom of the mat andworking up.If this fails, use small scissors to cut themat out.7. Clean her face with a moist cleanrag or washcloth.8. Wrap her in a towel and blot excesswater from coat.9. If desired, use a blow-dryer onmedium heat until she is dry.12
Dental HygieneNail ClippingPuppies are good about cleaning theirteeth because they do so muchchewing. However, this is the time to getthem accustomed to teeth brushing, sothey will accept it when they are adults.Long toenails are a hazard to your dog.They allow dirt to accumulate betweentoes, force the dogs’ weight onto hisheels, and can snag on carpeting. Trimhis toenails every two weeks.You will need a small, soft humantoothbrush and canine toothpaste.These can be purchased from pet storesor your veterinarian.Figure 4.1. Have your puppy sit, lie down or, ifyou think he will struggle, havesomeone cradle him on his back.Quick2. Put a tiny amount of toothpaste onthe moistened toothbrush.3. Holding his muzzle firmly in onehand, use the thumb of that hand tolift the gum to allow gentle brushingas shown if Figure 3.TipWhen cuddling with your pup,squeeze his toes so that hebecomes used to youhandling them, making toenailtrimming easier.To avoidthe quick,cut alonghookedpart of thenail, alongthe lineindicated.1. Hold his paw with one hand andgently squeeze the pad to exposeentire nail.Figure 3.Photo courtesy of Petsmart.com4. Start from the back of the mouth onone side, work towards the front,and then to the other side.2. Use clippers to cut the nail,avoiding the quick, as shown inFigure 4.5. Always follow this up with praiseand a treat.3. The quick is easy to see withwhite nails, but almost impossibleto see with dark nails. With darknails cut along hooked part ofnail.This should be done every week so thathe gets used to the procedure.4. When finished reward him withpraise and a treat.13
Appendix A: Puppy Behavioral StagesPuppy AgeIn WeeksPuppy’s NeedsExpected Behavior and Time for TrainingWeaning.Separation from litter.Human socialization.Security & love.Strong domination/subordinate relationships are developing. Motorskills improved. Capable of learning simple commands and beingleash broken.Bonds to humans.Accepts human as leader.Human socialization.Capable of learning Come, Sit, Stay commands. Needs confidenceinstilled. Begin housebreaking. Expose to variety of ention.Learns by association. Needs continued low-key socialization andexposure to new environments.17-24Socialization.Love.Consistent discipline.Basic training.Fully developed mentally; needs experience. Will attempt toestablish dominance. Adapts a negative or positive attitude towardstraining. Praise lavishly to correct behavior.25-32(6-8 months)Basic training.Consistent discipline.Continued attention &socialization.Ready for beginning show or obedience classes. Attention span islengthening. Needs continuing exposure to new situations. Malesbegin to assert dominance.33 – 56(8-12 months)Continued ing period ends. Puberty begins. Spay or neutering can beperformed.12-18 monthsMore disciplined &structured training.Love.Training can be more intense.6–89 – 1213 – 16Table information courtesy of Sheltie Talk14
Appendix B: Correcting Behavioral ProblemsProblemIncessantbarking.Jumping up.Solution1.2.3.Give command “Quiet!” If this doesn’t work;If outside, squirt with water hose while giving command “Quiet!”If inside, toss a tin can containing a few coins near him while telling him “Quiet!”Take his front paws and gently push him away while telling him “Off!”Do not step on his toes or knee him in the chest.Chewing.1.2.3.4.Tell him “No!”Take the object from him.Replace it with a rawhide or chewie.Praise him.Bolting throughan open door orgate.1.2.3.4.5.Approach door with him on a leash.Make him sit at the door.Open the door. If he gets up, quickly snap the leash.Tell him “No, stay!” Repeats steps 2 and 3 until he performs them correctly.Go to a different door and try it there.Running fromyou.If your puppy gets free from you, do not chase him or it will become a game to him. Try thecommands “Come!” “Cookie?” while shaking the treat container. I always call my puppy, thenrun the other way. He always turns around to chase me!Some bad behavior is cause by health problems. If nothing solves the problem you are having,consult a veterinarian to rule out illness. Also, puppies who get little exercise or are bored willexpress it with bad behavior. Try 20 minutes of walking or hard play every day. You both willbenefit from it.Remember, you must teach your puppy now how you will want him to behave as an adult dog. Ifyou will not want an 80-pound Labrador Retriever on your furniture, do not let him on it whenhe is a puppy. Ultimately, your puppy wants to please you, but you must teach him what pleasesyou. With positive reinforcement and consistency, you have the power to mold your puppy intothe dog that you want him to be. It is all up to you.15
ReferencesMcKinney, Betty Jo and Rieseberg, Barbara. Sheltie Talk. 1985. Self published.ContributorsI owe a note of gratitude to my friend, Rosemary Schoenberg, owner of Rosewood Shelties andveteran dog trainer. Most of the advice found here came to me from her, when I was trying totrain my pup. After trying different training methods from books and websites, with failure; Iturned to her and finally had success. The things I tell you to avoid are some mistakes that Imade personally.16
Early Puppy Training Ready for Formatting What you teach your puppy from the moment he comes home will affect his behavior for the rest of his life. Think of your puppy as a blank computer disk whose output depends on your input. Now is the time to think about how you want your
